Natural Hazards.

394 Words2 Pages
Using examples define a natural hazard. Give a detailed description of how physical hazards are classified. Using a named physical hazard show and describe response which are made in order to manage the impact of the hazard, further explain how the damage of the hazard is measured. When defining a natural hazard there are many factors to take into consideration, this is because a natural hazard may take many different forms, effect different people more than others and occur in different areas around the world. Typically a Natural hazard may be said to be 'normal functions of the environment that affect all living organisms'. However for a natural hazard to become a natural disaster or a catastrophe its occurrence is related to the loss of possessions, life or social disruption. For example if a volcano erupted, as recently (Italy - mid-august), and threatened human life or the destruction of infrastructure then this natural hazard is seen as a serious natural hazard - a natural disaster. However as geographers we know there are constant on-going eruptions deep in the Atlantic Ocean, but because these rarely threaten human life or infrastructure they are not looked upon as disasters but as hazards. To use another example namely rainstorms, a taboo subject may be made of rainstorms in terms of the way that they may be interpreted and the location in the world that they affect. For example if a rainstorm hit a major town of city in the "1st World", it may only be classified as a natural hazard because of the availability of money and time to manage its effect, something to be discussed later, in addition the water from the rainstorm would most probably be wasted or neglected as a resource due to the presence of a clean and reliable source of water in every home in the city. However if a rainstorm hit a village in the "3rd World" it may be classified as a
Open Document